Differences in lipid parameters among statins treated patients with coronary arteriosclerosis – a pilot study

LDL, total cholesterol (TC), high‐density lipoprotein (HDL) are poor predictors of the cardiovascular risk among patients undergoing hypolipidaemic therapy with statins. Thus, in this pilot study we have attempted to determine, on the basis of routinely used assessments of lipid profiles, sensitive and inexpensive parameter which would associate with the severity of coronary artery disease in patients undergoing hypolipidaemic treatment who achieved LDL goal. Apolipoprotein (apo) B100, apoA1, LDL, triglycerides, HDL, lipoprotein (a) and TC levels were assessed in 140 patients referred for coronary angiography. The various ratios based on lipid parameters were calculated and compared to patients taking statins. Coronary arteriosclerosis was determined by the degree of single stenosis and quantitatively by applying the Gensini score. Uing multivariate analysis we have found that in the group with hypolipidaemic therapy and/or with treatment LDL target (70–100 mg/dL) the TC/apoB100 ratio was associated with coronary artery stenosis. Additionally, univariate analysis showed that the TC/apoB100 ratio (among treated subjects) was significantly lower in patients with haemodynamically significant stenosis of coronary arteries than in matched patients without coronary artery lesions.     

Beta-cyclodextrin complexes with chlorogenic and caffeic acids from coffee brew: Spectroscopic,thermodynamic and molecular modelling study

Coffee brew is rich in chlorogenic and cinnamic acids, potent antioxidants. Its interaction with beta-cyclodextrin leads to formation of inclusion complexes which affect the physicochemical properties of the guest molecule. We investigated spectral changes in coffee-originated phenols, chlorogenic (CHA) and caffeic (CA) acids, due to complexation with beta-cyclodextrin (betaCD) in aqueous solutions and studied thermodynamic properties of the complexes formed. The spectroscopic data (absorption and fluorescence) were used for deducing the position of both phenols inside the beta-cyclodextrin cavity, as well as to calculate the binding constants of the complexes. The obtained data indicate the formation of a 1:1 complex between betaCD and CHA or CA. The temperature-dependence of the latter allowed the calculation of thermodynamic parameters (ΔH, ΔS and ΔG) of the complexation. The negative values of all the thermodynamic parameters indicated that the formation of these inclusion complexes was an enthalpy-driven process in which a crucial role is played by weak van der Waals forces and hydrogen bonds. Molecular modelling confirmed experimental observations that, in aqueous phase, betaCD–CHA and –CA complexes are stable and energetically favourable, and additionally provided information regarding conformation and interaction between atoms forming the complexes. The experimental data were used to characterise the molecular mechanism of the complexation.     

Open source BEM library

This article presents the project of the new open source boundary element method library. It discusses main goals of the project and its characteristics consistent with the ‘good open source project’. It covers license conditions, chosen technology, design of the project as well as development process.     

Acceptability of scab‐resistant versus conventional apple cultivars by Polish adult and young consumers

BACKGROUND: One of the problems in marketing fruit is to increase the share of fruits produced in sustainable agriculture to meet the expectation of ecology‐oriented consumers. Acceptability of such fruits by the consumers is of paramount importance. The objective of this study was to explore the acceptability of three scab‐resistant apple cultivars as compared with three popular conventional cultivars by Polish consumers of various age groups (adults, youngsters and children). Acceptability was tested on apples harvested in two consecutive years (2004 and 2005) after 2 months cold storage. Apple samples were chosen among 22 conventional and scab‐resistant cultivars for their distinctive differences in sensory profiles. Consumers evaluated separately the degree of external (appearance) and internal (flavour and texture) liking of an apple using a 9‐point hedonic scale (children used a 5‐point scale) and completed a questionnaire detailing socio‐demographic and apple‐concerning behavioural questions. RESULTS: The results based on internal liking data have shown that in all age groups, consumers were similarly segmented into three clusters: cluster 1, which liked all cultivars a great deal and equally; cluster 2, which preferred firm, juicy and rather acidic fruits; and cluster 3, which liked sweeter apples with intensive ripe apple flavour and moderate firmness. CONCLUSION: It is concluded that scab‐resistant cultivars with the above sensory characteristics might be accepted by quite a large segment of consumers, in each of the age groups tested. Copyright © 2009 Society of Chemical Industry     

Effects of dimethoate on spiders from metal pollution gradient

In this study, an attempt has been made to assess whether a chronic exposure to metals in habitats under a strong industrial pressure might have equipped spiders with biochemical defensive mechanisms enabling them to survive an additional chemical stress. To check this, non-web-building wolf spiders Pardosa lugubris (Lycosidae) and funnel web Agelena labyrinthica (Agelenidae) were collected at five variously polluted meadows and, under laboratory conditions, intoxicated with either single or multiple dose of dimethoate (OP pesticide). Then the activities of detoxifying (carboxylesterase: CarE, glutathione S-transferase: GST), antioxidative (selene-dependent and selene-independent glutathione peroxidases: GPOX and GSTPx) enzymes as well as acetylcholinesterase as a biomarker of exposure to OP pesticides were measured. In web-building A. labyrinthica, even a single application of the pesticide caused the inhibition of CarE, GSTPx and GPOX in individuals from less polluted sites and AChE and GST in specimens pre-exposed to high metal concentrations. Multiple intoxication, irrespectively of the site, caused significant, in comparison to controls, decrease in CarE, AChE and GSTPx activities. Actively hunting P. lugubris seem more resistant to acute pesticide intoxication, since the spiders from each site had a constant level of GST and AChE. In individuals of this species from heavily polluted sites, the inhibition caused by multiple intoxication with dimethoate was stated only for glutathione peroxidases.     

Apparatus for pressurized planar electrochromatography in a completely closed system

Pressurized planar electrochromatography (PPEC) is the mode which offers much higher separation efficiency in comparison to conventional planar chromatography, including both higher performance and much higher speed of separation. In this paper, we present a new device for performing PPEC in which the whole area of the chromatographic plate is pressurized. Both electrodes (anode and cathode) are washed with the mobile phase during the experiment, which prevents gas bubbles from collection in the region of the electrodes. This device enables directly controlling the flow rate of the mobile phase during the electrochromatography process. Mobile phase control offers the possibility of researching the influence of various properties of the PPEC system on separation efficiency. One important relationship to investigate is plate height vs mobile phase flow rate. This relationship helps to choose the optimal value of the mobile phase flow rate during the separation process. Considerable difference in shape of this relationship is demonstrated for conventional planar chromatography plates and high performance planar chromatography plates. Examples of the influence of some properties of the separating system on flow rate of the mobile phase are demonstrated, such as the buffer concentration in the mobile phase, the pH value of the buffer solution of the mobile phase, the type of chromatographic plate, and the voltage applied to the electrodes.     

Relaxation oscillations in a laser with a Gaussian mirror

We present an analysis of the relaxation oscillations in a laser with a Gaussian mirror by taking into account the three-dimensional spatial field distribution of the laser modes and the spatial hole burning effect. In particular, we discuss the influence of the Gaussian mirror peak reflectivity and a Gaussian parameter on the damping rate and frequency of the relaxation oscillation for two different laser structures, i.e., with a classically unstable resonator and a classically stable resonator.     

A/D converter based on a new memory cell implemented using the switched current technique

This paper presents an A/D converter based on a Delta–Sigma Modulator implemented using the switched-current technique. The new memory cell was used as a basic component for the SI blocks. The design is a good example of a mixed analog–digital circuit, hence VHDL-AMS models were written to improve the design process. This work demonstrates the ability to use the VHDL-AMS models to simulate a complex switched-current circuit.     

pH gradient reversed-phase HPLC

pH gradient HPLC is reported, which is a new original mode of reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography applicable to ionogenic analytes. The method consists of programmed increase during the chromatographic run of the eluting strength of the mobile phase with respect to the acid/base analytes separated. Unlike the well-established conventional gradient HPLC, where the eluting power of the mobile phase is increased with time due to the increasing content of organic modifier, in the pH gradient HPLC that is realized by linearly increasing (in the case of acids) or decreasing (in the case of bases) the pH of the eluent of a fixed organic modifier content, thus providing functional increase in the degree of analyte dissociation and, hence, a decrease in its retention. The pH gradient mode has typical features of gradient HPLC, such as reduced peak width and minimized peak-tailing due to peak compression, which is especially advantageous in the case of organic base analytes. It may be of special value for separation of those analytes which are susceptible to the higher concentrations of organic solvents, as many bioanalytes are. A theory of the pH gradient HPLC has been elaborated, and its full mathematical formalistic is presented step by step in a comprehensive manner. Although fundamental relationships at the basis of pH gradient HPLC are more complex than in the case of the organic gradient variant, the resulting mathematical model is easily manageable. Its applicability to predict changes in retention and separation of test mixtures of analytes accompanying the changes in chromatographic conditions has been demonstrated experimentally in both gradient and isocratic HPLC. The proposed model supplies a rational basis for modifications of eluent pH aimed at optimization of separations and for convenient assessment of chromatographically relevant physicochemical parameters of analytes, such as pK(a).